Parade refurbishment to go to the wire due to Watford pond setback

Problems with the redevelopment of Watford pond mean work on the refurbishment of The Parade could go right up to its big launch.

TV retail advisor Mary Portas will be officially opening the revamped area on June 20 a programme of cultural events will start in the town centre.

This week Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: "I am on tenterhooks. With the pond we always knew it would be a high risk part of the project as we did not know what was underneath it and what condition it was in.

"Having gone down there - it is not quite as good as we hoped. But it is doable. We will probably still be finishing the pond a few days before. It is unfortunate but there is no way we are getting the pond wrong."

The mayor added that she was excited to see the project finished and hoped the new opened-up Parade would become a regular venue for big cultural event.

She said: "I want the town to see it. I think the bridge is fabulous. It is going to be a real feature. It really is going to be a different space.

"People will like it or they or they will think it is a waste of money. But we thought ‘let’s get it tidied and make it better and not let it sit as another mess for another ten years’."

The event on June 20 will inaugurate the Watford Live festival, which will see dance, theatre and outdoor cinema events taking place until August next year.

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Mary Portas said: "Being Watford born and bred, I am delighted to be opening Watford's Big Events. Our high streets are our heartbeats - they form one of the most important social fabric of our community and the way we live so this really will be brilliant for the town.

"Big Events is a great way to showcase the talent in the area and I am so proud to be involved."

I heard it was because they could not source any lime green water to fill it with

I heard it was because they could not source any lime green water to fill it withE.Coli

I heard it was because they could not source any lime green water to fill it with

Score: 12

The Rover says...2:41pm Fri 6 Jun 14

TRT wrote…

One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?

or Queens Road

[quote][p][bold]TRT[/bold] wrote:
One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?[/p][/quote]or Queens RoadThe Rover

TRT wrote…

One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?

or Queens Road

Score: 16

E.Coli says...3:03pm Fri 6 Jun 14

TRT wrote…

One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?

I wonder if she will be staying at the Grims Dyke Hotel ?

[quote][p][bold]TRT[/bold] wrote:
One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?[/p][/quote]I wonder if she will be staying at the Grims Dyke Hotel ?E.Coli

TRT wrote…

One wonders if M. Portas will be shown Lower High Street?

I wonder if she will be staying at the Grims Dyke Hotel ?

Score: 3

Popeonarope says...6:44pm Fri 6 Jun 14

So does this increase the cost to the town? Obviously the risk money was already factored into the original costs.

So does this increase the cost to the town? Obviously the risk money was already factored into the original costs.Popeonarope

So does this increase the cost to the town? Obviously the risk money was already factored into the original costs.

Score: 2

Feel Coax says...6:50pm Fri 6 Jun 14

No Phil comment? This story is like Christmas and a Birthday all in one for him.

No Phil comment? This story is like Christmas and a Birthday all in one for him.Feel Coax

No Phil comment? This story is like Christmas and a Birthday all in one for him.

Score: 0

TRT says...7:37pm Fri 6 Jun 14

The last TfL board meeting saw the CRL running late and going over budget. It's par for the course, especially round here.

The last TfL board meeting saw the CRL running late and going over budget. It's par for the course, especially round here.TRT

The last TfL board meeting saw the CRL running late and going over budget. It's par for the course, especially round here.

Score: 1

drunkenduck says...9:59pm Sat 7 Jun 14

Surprise that Dottie hasn't secretly filled in the pond and built flats on it, she does it anywhere else in Watford. "Who cares" is her motto..

Surprise that Dottie hasn't secretly filled in the pond and built flats on it, she does it anywhere else in Watford. "Who cares" is her motto..drunkenduck

Surprise that Dottie hasn't secretly filled in the pond and built flats on it, she does it anywhere else in Watford. "Who cares" is her motto..

Score: 6

WatfordBandB says...8:44am Mon 9 Jun 14

The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.

The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.WatfordBandB

The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.

Score: 2

TRT says...8:52am Mon 9 Jun 14

WatfordBandB wrote…

The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.

Actually £4.5 million.

[quote][p][bold]WatfordBandB[/bold] wrote:
The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.[/p][/quote]Actually £4.5 million.TRT

WatfordBandB wrote…

The Mayor should have resigned over this project. The timescale has been a joke, the workmanship has been appalling, the entire project which cost hundreds of thousands has been for someone’s benefit, not ours.

Actually £4.5 million.

Score: 2

WatfordBandB says...9:07am Mon 9 Jun 14

I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...

I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...WatfordBandB

I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...

Score: 2

TRT says...9:36am Mon 9 Jun 14

WatfordBandB wrote…

I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...

And that figure was committed just 10 years after the last high st makeover which cost £10million. But at least that did the whole of the High St between McDonalds and the Town Hall.

[quote][p][bold]WatfordBandB[/bold] wrote:
I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...[/p][/quote]And that figure was committed just 10 years after the last high st makeover which cost £10million. But at least that did the whole of the High St between McDonalds and the Town Hall.TRT

WatfordBandB wrote…

I was happier in Ignorance, that figure is utterly ridiculous for the shambles they have created. I give up...

And that figure was committed just 10 years after the last high st makeover which cost £10million. But at least that did the whole of the High St between McDonalds and the Town Hall.

Ipsoregulated

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